Children And Parents Can Make Fitness Resolutions

Amy Morganson of My Gym in Glastonbury helps instill an exercise routine in young children and parent.

Amy Morganson of My Gym in Glastonbury helps instill an exercise routine in young children and parent.

SARAH CODYSpecial To The Courant

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in kids in the last 30 years

Seems you're never too young for a New Year's resolution regarding exercise. "Adults are doing it, why shouldn't kids?" asks Amy Morganson, of My Gym in Glastonbury, where little ones roll, jump and tumble at will. "Our classes here begin at 6 weeks and we always hear people say, 'What can a baby possibly do at 6 weeks old?'" Plenty, asserts Morganson, a former gymnast and competitive dancer, who studied child psychology in college. A desire to mix her interests in mental and physical development inspired her to buy this padded play space (www.mygym.com/glastonbury) with her husband. Now, she encourages parents to teach their kids about fitness from the get-go, in an effort to jump-start a lifelong commitment to healthy living.

"It becomes something that you do for fun and not something that you have to do," says Morganson, as she leads her 16-month-old daughter, Fiona, in Baby Boot Camp, a tongue-in-cheek term for activities that are stimulating but not overly strenuous. Parents can guide babies through easy, supervised moves, such as headstands. "It helps them re-orient their vision when they're upside down," says Morganson, also showing-off mini-backflips and forward rolls that work stomach muscles. This mom-of-three demonstrates a pint-sized sit-up by placing Fiona on her back and holding her hands out: "Then she pulls herself up, all the way up to standing." These activities also help a child's budding sense of coordination and balance. In class, tots work on rhythm, as they clap to music.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in kids in the last 30 years, proving an early focus on fitness could change lives. And, getting out to a baby class is also an important exercise for mom. "Our classes really focus on the socialization, not just of the children but the parents," says Morganson, remembering exhaustion caused by multiple night feedings and diaper changes. "The solidarity that goes on between new moms is huge and we've had parents meet here in the baby class and follow through and have lifelong friendships."

Another perk to Baby Boot Camp? True happiness due to the release of endorphins. "You never see a kid running around, swinging on a monkey bar that's crying," laughs Morganson. There's no doubt, this healthy physical activity also leads to solid rest time, good for everyone. "Parents come in and let their kids run around for an hour or so and then they go home and will crash," says this busy mom. "I always say, we take a lot of credit for naps at My Gym!"